Wellbeing

The Resilience Project

Parents & Carers Checking in.

We all know how important it is to stay connected with your kids, especially when they are going through a really tough time. Sometimes having that conversation and providing them the support they need can be tricky to navigate. Check out the video below, for an open and honest conversation between KISS FM Radio Host’s Will & Woody. It has some really helpful tips on supporting people going through a difficult period or struggling with a mental illness.

CLICK HERE to watch https://www.kiis1011.com.au/health-beauty/video/best-mates-will-woody-sit-down-to-talk-about-wills-depression-18458/

Looking for further ways to support your family's wellbeing? The Parenting Section on TRP@HOME has been updated. Filled with resources, expert knowledge and stories, there are lots of ideas for parents and carers to support their own wellbeing, plus a range of tips to help them embed positive mental health habits with the rest of the family. https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/parenting/

GEM TV

It's back by popular demand! This week there was another week of GEM TV episodes from Monday September 13 - Friday September 17.What you need to know:New episodes will be released each weekday from September 13-17.

New episodes will go up at 2pm each day, and stay available for 24hrs until the next episode.
Episodes are intended for a primary school audience.
Tune in through TRP@HOME, or go to www.theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/gem-tv
Each episode explores a different evidence-based principle linked to positive mental health: Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness, Emotional Literacy and Connection

Haven't tuned in to GEM TV? Here's a little preview of the fun...

https://vimeo.com/600711967/da25522e3c?embed_email_provider=gmail

Twilight community market

We are still crossing our fingers and toes that we might be able to go ahead with our Twilight community market. The date is Thursday 4th November. Only 7 weeks to go!

R U OK?

While we know that R U OK day was last week, we must not forget the other 364 days in the year. R U OK day is just a reminder to reach out to others. With all that we have gone through and are still working through, maybe this year it is especially important to not only ask our friends and loved ones, “Are you okay?” but, “Are you really okay?”.

A few things you might like to consider doing:

Touching base with an old friend or acquaintance you haven’t spoken to recently – maybe the first one that comes to mind.
Sending an uplifting message to a family member you haven’t heard from in a while.
Having a conversation with someone you come in contact with and asking them two questions unrelated to work.

When we focus on others over self and step outside our comfort zone by communicating to someone in a different way we can assist them well beyond what we see or think we know.

People’s struggles and challenges in life are often camouflaged by the busyness of life and we need to consciously stop that noise around us and focus on being something else to someone else.

For more information and supporting resources please visit: https://www.ruok.org.au/

What is SEL ? (Social and Emotional Learning)

Social and Emotional Learning refers to the process through which children learn to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

We know from research that there are many positive benefits to teaching SEL.

Here are just a few benefits to social emotional learning in the classroom:

Improves school and class climate. ...
Increases student motivation. ...
Teaches problem-solving skills. ...
Helps students set and meet goals. ...
Gives a space to talk about mental health. ...
Teaches study skills and habits.

Positive thought for the day

With the start of the term 3 holidays, I wish all SFS families a restful and relaxing break and a chance for the children to have a break from online learning and “re-charge the batteries”. While we still have many restrictions in place, I hope you and your family take some time out to enjoy the little things like a walk or bike ride, playing a game together, enjoying the AFL grand final, watching movies together, cooking, exercising, connecting with family and friends online or over the phone and doing whatever makes your family happy. Let’s hope for some beautiful Spring sunshine for us all to enjoy. If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child or their social and emotional learning, please do not hesitate to contact me so that I can support you and your family. rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

Rachel Lenko

Student Wellbeing Leader

Family time in the Holidays

Thinking about the Family’s Fun Factor.

Welcome to School holidays. I am sure it is well deserved after the tremendous efforts, children, parents and teachers have put into remote learning. It’s very important to consider rest and fun for your children over the next two weeks so they come back to school for Term 4, refreshed, renewed and refocussed.

I found a great little exercise to share with you on Family Fun from Daniel Seigel and Tina Payne Bryson’s book, ‘The Whole Brain-Child Workbook’. Both are world renowned professionals supporting children’s wellbeing. The gist of their wisdom goes like this.

If you feel like the bulk of your time with your kids is spent correcting behaviour - or just ‘managing’ them, stop and ask yourself,

‘How much time we are having together as a family?’

If your answer is ‘not enough’, ‘I’m too busy’, how do you think you could be more intentional about enjoying your time with your kids? What needs to change so that you can have more fun together as family? Write your thoughts down.

What do you think your kids would say if you asked them the same question, ‘How much time do we have together as a family?’ Do they get excited by family time? Would they say there is more tension and fighting than fun? Will they grow up knowing that, even though no one was perfect and there were times of conflict, you had plenty of fun together as family? Write your thoughts down.

Remember, family fun doesn’t mean only big events. Bedtime snuggles, inside cubby building, laughing at corny jokes, and all bring your family together.

Write down ways your family has fun together.

Spend a moment to appreciate your list of family fun times. I bet it brings a smile to you. Next write down some new ways to bring fun and laughter into your family time. It might be setting up a weekly game night, getting out a joke book to share at dinner, sharing dinners together with the TV off, doing hairstyles , cooking pancakes, playing pick- up sticks. Perhaps you could do a calendar for the 2 weeks with a family fun activity for each day, including an extra special one to look forward to each Saturday night. Looking forward to something always creates a bit of excitement. What fun things did you do with your family when you were growing up? Do you smile when you write them down?

I have read that if you are able to spend 20 minutes a day giving positive attention to your child, that is all the time that is needed to make them feel valued and loved. These fun activities promote ‘feel good’ chemicals in the body. In this lockdown, when we may feel a sense of disconnection, it is most important that we strengthen connections where we can. Fun Family times are essential for fostering connection and wellbeing.

Enjoy your Fun Family Times this holiday.

Maureen

mflanagan@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

(School Chaplain)